Page 170 of Life of the Party

“I don’t know. It was a long time ago, Mac.”

There had to be a reason the memory plagued me all week. Despite the ominousness of his warning, I nodded, nervously. “Yes. I need to know.”

No going back now.

“Okay.” Riley nodded, but fell silent again. Grasping for words, maybe? Trying to decide where to start?

He swallowed heavily. “After you took that pill, you were out of control. I’d never seen you like that before. I couldn’t keep track of you—you were going from room to room, dancing, drinking, smoking up, making new friends. You fell off a speaker and kept complaining about your ribs.”

That brought back a flash of memory. Riley crouched in front of me, his eyes narrowed as he lifted up my shirt, exposing my navel, his warm fingers gentle on my bare skin as he pressed against my ribs. “Does that hurt?”

“I can’t breathe.” I’d answered. But it had nothing to do with pain.

I blinked, trying to remember past that point. Everything was a blur.

“You wouldn’t sit still. I lost you—we were getting ready to leave and we couldn’t find you anywhere. I went and checked the basement, and there you were, totally crashed on the couch. But you weren’t alone.”

“Top Hat?” I guessed, cringing.

“Top Hat,” Riley confirmed. “I don’t think anything happened, but if I hadn’t found you…” He shook his head again, shrugging off the memory. “Who knows.”

“Gross.” I acknowledged.

“I was pretty pissed off. I tried to wake you up and he kept telling me you were fine, that you wanted to stay.”

“Wait…” I remembered this part.

“You’re fucked if you think I’m leaving her here with you.” Riley’s voice, so serious, so dangerous sounding, had stirred me conscious. I’d opened my eyes and found him there, pulling me up and off the couch.

“Riley?” I’d smiled, sleepily. “Hi.”

“Hi.” Despite the rigidness of his features, he’d managed a smile. “Time to go, Zee.”

He led me out of the house, his arms tight around my waist as I stumbled along beside him, giggling, on our way to the car. He stopped beside the door to open it for me, but instead of getting in, I pressed myself against him, wrapping my arms around his neck and staring up into his handsome face.

“What?” He’d sighed, exasperated, looking down at me.

“I love you, Riley McIntyre.” I’d realized, gazing into his sweet dark eyes.

He’d chuckled, shaking his head, humouring me. “I love you, too.”

“No. I do.” I remembered feeling it then, the overwhelming, all-encompassing love that swept over me during those few, free, fleeting moments. Moments I knew no inhibitions, no fear. Moments I could do nothing but feel. “I fucking love you, Riley.”

A little smile curved his lips. “Get in the car, Mac.”

We’d all piled in. I’d had to snuggle up against Riley to make room for Ben, and when I did, he put an arm around me, unprompted, holding me tight against him.

Someone changed the music. “Champagne Supernova” was playing, and suddenly Riley and I were alone, parked outside my house.

Someday you will find me

Caught beneath the landslide…

I’d lifted my head, squinting and confused, swiping at the hair in my face. He helped me, chuckling, tucking my dark curls behind my ear, his fingertips light against my cheek, his touch making me shiver.

It felt so good to be so close to him. I’d leaned against the solid width of his chest, feeling his arm tight around me, his warm breath in my face. I’d felt so safe, so whole.

“Doesn’t this feel right?” I’d dared to whisper, blinking up at him. There was something in the air, something heavy, irresistible, as our eyes finally met. “Doesn’t it feel like we belong together?”

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